STAR-Ghana aims to help develop and consolidate democratic governance in Ghana by increasing the accountability and responsiveness of government to all citizens. The programme is funded by DANIDA, UKAID and the European Union.
Building on the results and learning from STAR-Ghana phase one (2010-15), the current programme seeks to change how citizens are supported to address challenges and constraints to democratic governance and inclusive, sustainable national development in Ghana.
To ensure results are sustained and built upon, the programme has a second vision – to become an independent national entity that would maintain and enhance support for civil society beyond the life of STAR-Ghana.
To that end, STAR-Ghana is undertaking wide-ranging consultations within civil society and with other key stakeholders to help define the nature of such an independent institution and the particular gap it could fill in the evolving Ghanaian context. The aim is to ensure co-creation and broad national ownership of the entity.
Related projects
International Day of Democracy
Each year on the 15 September, the world celebrates the International Day of Democracy, highlighting the global importance of maintaining democratic values for nations and peoples.
In Ghana, this year’s commemoration coincides with the run-up to Presidential and Parliamentary elections in December 2016. The elections in December will be the 6th since the re-establishment of constitutional governance in 1992, marking this the longest continuous period of democratic governance in the country’s history.
As we celebrate this landmark achievement, STAR-Ghana wishes to congratulate all actors who worked tirelessly to restore the country to constitutional rule and have been working since then to deepen and consolidate democratic governance at all levels of the public sphere. Particular mention must be made of civil society: workers’ unions, the student movement, citizen groups and movements and professional and private sector associations. It is in recognition of the historic and on-going role played by these groups in promoting democratic governance in Ghana that STAR-Ghana this year awarded grants and other support, totalling approximately $2m, to 38 civil society organisations to enable them implement actions around and leading up to the 2016 elections. The support aims at facilitating citizens’ actions towards achieving credible, peaceful and inclusive elections.
However, even as we celebrate these achievements, we should be cognisant of the challenges facing us as we strive to consolidate democracy. The country rates highly on most of the basic measures of democracy, including protection of fundamental civil liberties and human rights, but has been less successful when it comes to the nature and scope of the participation of most social groups in the country’s governance processes and institutions beyond elections. Effective participation in the making and implementation of public policy remains limited to a small political and social elite, who benefit disproportionately from the benefits of policy.
As we celebrate the International Day of Democracy, STAR-Ghana calls for renewed commitment on the part of the sections of civil society which were active in the fight for democratic rule to a deepening of democratic governance by enabling the voices and active participation of all citizens in governance at local and national levels, and working to reduce inequality in society. This will require purposive alliances within civil society and engagement between civil society and relevant state actors. It will also require collective action in addressing the systemic challenges to inclusive development, including thorough-going constitutional reforms, meaningful and inclusive decentralisation and the strengthening of spaces for citizens to hold government and other state institutions accountable and responsive.
STAR-Ghana commits to working alongside the citizens of Ghana over the long-term to achieve these objectives.
Akilagpa Sawyerr
Chairman
Steering Committee, STAR-Ghana
Nationwide Consultations on Sustaining Civil Society Actions for Inclusive National Development
13th June 2017
by
Kwasi Duah
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STAR-Ghana aims to help develop and consolidate democratic governance in Ghana by increasing the accountability and responsiveness of government to all
citizens. The programme is funded by DANIDA, UKAID and the European Union.
Building on the results and learning from STAR-Ghana phase one (2010-15), the current programme seeks to change how citizens are supported to address challenges
and constraints to democratic governance and inclusive, sustainable national development in Ghana.
To ensure results are sustained and built upon, the programme has a second vision – to become an independent national entity that would maintain and enhance
support for civil society beyond the life of STAR-Ghana.
To that end, STAR-Ghana is undertaking wide-ranging consultations within civil society and with other key stakeholders to help define the nature of such
an independent institution and the particular gap it could fill in the evolving Ghanaian context. The aim is to ensure co-creation and broad national ownership
of the entity.
We are planning general engagements with key stakeholders in all the 10 regional capitals. The general public is invited to participate in any of the sessions
as follows:
table with 6 columns and 11 rows
S/N
Zone
Location
Venue
Date
Time
1
Zone A
Takoradi
GNAT Hall
20th June, 2017
10:00am
2
Cape Coast
Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly Hall (CCMA Hall)
21st June, 2017
10:00am
3
Zone B
Kumasi
SSNIT Hall
21st June, 2017
10:00am
4
Sunyani
Tyco City Hotel
22nd June, 2017
10:00am
5
Zone C
Koforidua
Apenteng Hall
22nd June, 2017
10:00am
6
Ho
GNAT Hall
23rd June, 2017
10:00am
7
Zone D
Tamale
GNAT Hall
28th June, 2017
10:00am
8
Bolgatanga
SSNIT Hall
29th June, 2017
10:00am
9
Wa
Regional Library Conference Hall
30th June, 2017
10:00am
10
Zone E
Accra
W.E.B. Dubois Centre
5th July, 2017
10:00am
table end
For further details contact Mabel Viviey, Communications and Learning Manager, on 0302774488 or 0263010964, or
info@star-ghana.org
to register your interest.
You can also register your interest by visiting this link:
https://goo.gl/forms/SwqRQ6gXHo50jhzX2
and filling in your name, contact details and location you are interested in participating in.
Transition Document – Background Document on Consultations
Departure of Mr Seth P. Lartey from the STAR-Ghana Team
It is with regret that we announce the departure of Mr Seth P. Lartey from the STAR-Ghana team with effect from December 30, 2016. He joined STAR-Ghana as Head of Programmes from in October 2015 with a wealth of experience having worked as the Head of Programmes at ENCISS (A DFID funded programme) in Sierra Leone. He also brought on-board over 19 years’ experience in public service, international civil service, and the not-for-profit sector.
Despite the short duration of his time with STAR-Ghana, Seth contributed immensely in the development of the programme’s strategic approaches, particularly during the Inception phase. As Head of Programmes, he led on the scoping and implementation of the Elections, GESI and Media Calls, ensuring that these were in line with STAR-Ghana’s overall approach and principles. Elections Call grant partners will remember him for his hands-on approach in the provision of programme support for the implementation of their projects.
Please join us wish him well in his future endeavours.
